One of Australia's most famous beaches, Cottesloe is a popular place for locals to go jogging, play beach cricket and bask beside the Indian Ocean. The landmark Cottesloe Beach Hotel across the street features the Beach Club, Cott & Co. Fish Bar and the Verandah Bar, all designed for alfresco drinks, bites and good times overlooking the sea.

Whenever I need to calm myself, I close my eyes, and in my head I go to Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, where I can feel the warm sun on my back and see the beauty of the Indian Ocean in front of me. There is a beautiful pavilion, as you can see in this picture, at the center of the beach, which is very easily accessible from Perth. Insiders tip: From downtown Perth, take the regional train that goes to Freemantle, and the Cottesloe stop is a few stops before Fremantle. Once off the train, do what we did – ask any local to point you to the beach.

Cottesloe is the sleepy beach town on the outskirts of Perth, the big little city on the Western coast of Australia. It is in this residential neighborhood that you'll find this hidden jewel. Clear blue waters and white powdery sand met myself and a friend as we arrived one afternoon to spend our day in the sun. Cottesloe is a convenient local bus or train ride from Perth. It is approximately 30 minutes from the city on the Fremantle line. Once at the Cottesloe exit, you walk another 10-15 minutes, following the marked signs, along the residential streets before reaching the beach.
After our precautionary day of "sunning," to round out our afternoon, we shared a cocktail, or two, and satisfied our palette at the beachfront restaurant/cafe, Bluewaters, a seafood lovers delight. It was a lovely afternoon, literally and figuratively.